Meat-flattener.



No. 66|.792. Patented Nov. l3, I900.

V F. COWIN.

MEAT FLATTENER.

(Application filed Mar. 14, 1898.;

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

WITNESS S IN-VENTOR 24; ATT Y N0. 66!,792. Patented Nov. [3,1900. F. COWIN.

MEAT FLATTENEBL (Application filed Mar. 14, 1898.| No Model.) 2 Sheets-$heet 2.

ITVE' 1:11

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK COWIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MEAT-FLATTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,792, dated November 13', 1900.

Application filed March 14, 1898.

To all whon't it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK OOWIN, a subject of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meat-Flatteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to meat-flatteners, and has been applied particularly to flattening the sides or bellies of hogs. These are received by the operatgr in a curved form, being in about the shape that same are taken from the hog and are usually hardened in such shape through refrigeration. Hereto fore they have usually been flattened with bats in the hands of the operator.

The main object of my invention is to provide a machine which 'Wlll facilitate this process.

Further and incidental objects are to pro Vide a striking or flattening member on such machine which will operate without injury to the meat-block when the space between the striking member and the meat-block is free and to provide for properly treating meat of. different thicknesses.

I accomplish these objects by providing a machine in which the blow of the striking member is similar to the blow of the bats used heretofore, in which such member is retarded at the end of its downward stroke, so as to prevent injury to the block, as above stated, and in which such member strikes a yielding blow, governed by the thickness and resistance of the meat.

The construction and operation of my device will be understood from the following description by reference to the accompany ing drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a meat-flattening machine constructed according to my invention. Fig.2 is a horizontal section of same on the line was of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical central section of the pneumatic mechanism shown in Fig. 1, partly broken away and showing the interior construction in detail.

The device shown in the drawings consists mainly of a meat-block 14, having rigidly secured thereon the cylinder 1 and striking member of a pneumatic drill in which a plate Serial No. 673,728. (No model.)

6 has been substituted for the tool-point. The plate 6, which is he striking or flattening member of the device,is directly operated by mechanism which is essentially the same as that used in the Sullivan pneumatic rockdrill or the Rand Drill Gompanys slugger rock-drill described on page 188 of Appletons lllodern lllecha'msm.

In Fig. 1 the plate 6 is shown at the lower limit of its stroke, the member 4: being adjusted by the screw 7 and through the arms 4, so as to prevent the plate 6 from striking the block. A head 2, supported on springs 3, intervenes between the member 4 and an inner head on the arm' 5 essentially the same as in said rock-drill. The cylinder 1 is supported by the tripod 7, which is rigidly secured upon the block 14. The air-pipe 8, communicating with the cylinder, is provided with a valve 9. This valve is normally closed by the spring 1Q. Arod 11 connects the valve to a pedal 12, whereby and through the rod 11 the valve is operated. The pedal is pivoted to the arm '12 at 12", said arm being secured to the block 14:.

16 represents a bench having a cut therein for receiving the block, same being arranged so that the meat can be conveniently passed fromthe bench to the block.

I prefer to arrange the block and parts secured thereto so that same may be readily removed from the bench when the machine is not in use, asection being provided for filling the cut in the bench, thus adapting the bench for other purposes when the machine is removed. To this end the block is mounted on rollers and a flexible tube 13 is connected with the pipe 8, the pipe 8 being braced to the cylinder by the member 8. This is so arranged only in case it is desirable to have the block movable. When the block is to remain in a fixed position, the flexible tube 13 and brace 8 may be omitted, and the pedal may be supported in any suitable manner other than upon the block. The arm or piston-rod 5 is vertically slidable in the cylinder 1 and has thereon the shoulders 17 and 18. The sleeve 19 has its upper end vertically slid-able in the cylinder 1 and has its lower end enlarged and bearing against a gasket 20. The sleeves 21 and 22 are threaded in the member 2. The valve-casing 23 has a recipder.

rocating valve 24 vertically slidable therein and operated by the member 25, which is pivoted at 26 in the cylinder. The port 27leads from the valve-casing into the upper part of the cylinder, and the port 28 leads from the valve-casing into the lower part of the cylin- When the piston-rod is at the lower end of its stroke, the valve 24 will be in the 7 position shown and will permit'the steam or air to pass through the port 28 and under the shoulder 17, thus raising the piston. When the piston is at the npper'end of its stroke, the valve 24, through the action of the memher 25, will be raised, so as to close the end 'valve and the port 27.

of the port 28 communicating with the valve and to open communication between the This will admit the steam or air above the shoulder 18 and will thus force the piston downwardly. The lower part of the piston immediately above the shoulder 17 will bear against the face 29 of the member 25 when the piston is at the upper end of its stroke, thus opening the port 27 and closing the port 28. The screw 7 is threaded into the head 30 of the cylinder and has an enlargementSl, supporting the member 4. The springs 3 act between the member 4 and the shoulder-32 of the member 2. The position of the member 4 is regulated by the screw 7, and thus determines the limit of the downward stroke of the piston-rod 5. At each downward stroke the sleeve 19 will be forced downwardly in a slight degree against the action of the springs 3. When the valve 24 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the chamber 33 communicates with the port 28 around the lower part of the valve 24. In. this position communication between the port 27 and charm ber 33is closed, while said port 27 comm unicates through the valve with the exhaustchamber 34, from which the steam passes out through the exhaust-port 35.

The operation of the device is as follows:

An operator stands in front of the block toward the right with one foot upon the pedal. He receives the sides of meat from the bench and pushes same under the plate 6 while opening the valve 9 by pressing upon the pedal. The air is thereby'admitted to the cylinder, causing the member 6 to move up and down with the stroke of the piston in the cylinder. An assistant stands at the left of the block, and as the sides of meat protrude upon that side of the member 6 he engages same with a hook or with his hands and draws same toward his side of the block, removing same upon that side. It will be seen that the meat may thus be properly flattened throughout its length and width. r

I am aware that some eiforts have been made heretofore to provide a machine for this,

- fact that no adequate means have been provided for cushioning and retardingv the blow of the striking or flattening member toward the end of the stroke.

I find that it is desirable to secure a hard quick cushioned blow and that this end is at tained by the use of pneumatic mechanism, such as is applied in the pneumatic drills hereinbefore mentioned. A yielding blow is thus obtained which is similar in effect to that of the bat in the hands of the operator and is much more rapid and eifective.

Through the effective cushioning of the stroke of the member 6 direct contact with the block, as well as all jarring and consequent injury to the other parts of the machine, is prevented.

The valve 9 and pedal keepthe machine entirely in the control of the operator,'so that same can be instantly stopped and started during the operation of feeding.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A meat-fiattenin g machine,comprising a meat-block; a member 6 having a fiat under surface; and suitable mechanism secured to its down ward stroke to a point above and free from the opposed surface of said block; and a pedal connected to said. mechanism whereby same can be instantly stopped and started by the operator during the operation of feeding the machine; substantially as described.

3. A meat-flattening machine,comprising a meat-block; a member 6 having a flat under surface; suitable pneumatic mechanism se cured-to said block for imparting a yielding striking motion to said. member and limiting the end of its downward stroke to a point above and free from the opposed surface of said block; an air-feed pipe communicating with said mechanism; a spring-valve in said pipe, normally closed; and a pedal connected to said valve whereby same can be instantly opened and closed by the operator during the operation of feeding the machine; substan-' tially as described. 7

4. A meat-flattening machine,comprisinga portable roller-mounted meat-block; a member 6 having a fiat under surface; suitable pneumatic mechanism secured to said block for imparting a yielding striking motion to said member and limiting the end of its downward stroke to a point above and free from the opposed surface of said block; an air-feed pipe communicating with said mechanism, and having a flexible section; a spring-valve in said pipe, normally closed; and a pedal connected to said valve whereby the same can be instantly opened and closed by the operator during the operation of feeding the machine; in combination with a bench having a part out out for receiving the block; substantialiy as described.

5. In an apparatus for flattening and smoothing cuts 0f1neat,a framework,a pounding-block mounted to reciprocate therein,said block having an extended plain surface, and means for reciprocating said pounding-block, in combination with a stationary block having an extended plain fiat surface arranged FREDERICK COWIN.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN ROBERT IRVING, ALFRED MELTZER. 

